The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-10-15
ATRAGEDYlN THE AIR.

A few months back, when was attend
ing, in my professional capacity as sur
geon, on Senior Tornados, the acrobat
who, despite his name, was on Engllah'
man, he related the following narrative
"About seven years ago-I was just
twenty.three--1 frat met with james
Ranford, who Was also in my line, and be
propoecd that We should work together.
I consented, but we did badly. Ranford
had wife aud child, 80 It fell harder
upon him. Twas forced to lend him Whist
little could upare, for I could not see a
young woman and little baby 90 with
out, while l had It, couldl?
swell, cir, things rot from bad to worse,
and my partner, being man OF violent
temper, took 10 drink. and, am sorry 10
any, used to beat his vile. "a gr'.r''
1.-THE thought struck "a one day that we
might do better il We performed under a
foreign name, so we decided to call our.
selves henceforth 'fhe Two Foscari, the
Spineleas fuen OF Syria From that
moment Raniord and I began to do well !;
but em CORY 10 say that our good luck
only caused my partner to drink harder
and 10 behave Worse to his vile. 5I.
"At last wo got an engagement at q gar
den near London, where there was grand
gala night every week, on which occasion
balloon aacended. I Hcrapsd acq usin.
TANGO with the aeronaut, and one evening
L went up with him. As VIC were calling
over London he said to me: II1I' -
.'You couldn't do the slack rope up
here, Foecari, could you p .GlsslI' :
"'Why notP' I said; and, as 1 spoke
the idea flashed upon me what splendid
feature In tho programme 1t would be:
'Perilous performance Of the two Foscsri
brothers, who will 60 through their mimi.
table evolutions on eiack rope sus.
pended from balloon floating thousands
Of yarda above the surface OF tho earth!"
As soon as ! reached ground l went to
Rantord, who egreea to it.; The proprie.
tor Of the gardens asked US TO name our
terms. We did 60. he tried to beat ua
down, but at last consented, and We went
up and did 1t.
Our performance gave great satisfaction,
and was favorably noticed in the daily
and weekly papsrs. The act that thrilled
the audience moot VEG the last one per.
formed before descending. Ranford, who
was heavier man than /, hung from the
rope with his head downward; then tax.
ing hold Of both his hands with both OF
mine, I swung by their support; and then.
by way Of climax, let 70 with nv left
hand and clung on only by my right, |
never felt the least fear. We knew each
o!he1'O grip, and it was all right. wv,
I'VE were now earning great deal OF
money but 1 noticed that Mrs. Rsnford
looked paler and more ca1eworn every
day, and I knew how her husband was
conducting himself by that. She told ms
that she Wished they were poor again,
as he had been much kinder In thoss
timrn. lg5tG5 lF&f r D
@Ons night l was returning from the
gardens. As passed the door of Ran.
lords lodgings little Evelina's nurse ran
ont to me and aaid: Sir, 10 in I ran
into the house. 1 found the parlor door
open. Mrs. Rapford was in the room
alone, her back was toward me, but 7
could sec her face in the large mirror
which stood over tho chimney.piece, She
had razor IN her hand and was about to
use It on herself, when she caught the re.
leclion Of my face in the glaos.
"she stopped, turned around, and fell
on the floor in fit. l picked up tho
razor, put 1t in my pocket and placed the
xoman on the sofa. Rsnford came into
the room half drunk, hall mad, and ecowl.
ed at mo like demon. expostulatsd,
and tried to rsason with him, but he ouly
made me jeering replies, such as, Oh, /
understand better than you think forl l
am not fool and 90 on, and l left the
house with heavy heart. Next day tho
nuree girl told me Rsnford was Jealous,
and that he and his wife had quarreled
about me. We ascended that night, he
meyer spoke to me nor to him.
"Our next ascent took place on the
grand gala night OF tho United Order ci
Ancient Toxophilitiea. As I took my seat
beaide Ranlord noticed that he had been
drinking more than usual. We went
through tho performance however, oil but
the last trick. AS I was swinging from
hie two hands the thought came into nv
hesd, il he should not hold on. q. & ;.
"As let 90 with my left hand, and
swung or:y BY my right, I heard his voice
above me-. Kerr he said, are you guilty
or not% ] asked him what he mesnt.
You know, he answered. Confess that
you hsve wropged ME; speak the truth
They are your last wordal have but to
loose my grip. -. y t.555TTl
q! tried to esize hiu diaengaged srm, but
he held 1t above my reach and put his
other in such position that I could not
catch 1t, but swung entirely at his mercy.
| leaped to reach the rope with my feet,
and go hang by my heels, but failed. I
shut my eyes and prayed to heaven.
Every set Of my past life rushed through
my brain at tho came time I was perfect.
ly conecioua OF everything about me. l
thought what time should no falling.
What a long, long time I should be dying,
sre l reached the esrth. I found strength
to speak. 6s. t& q Ia, si5ls 4: s'tl5g
"'Ranford,' I said, you are mistaken,
If you Jet 90 my hand you are murderer
~ dom. care. 3 ii -5S; .litsl @ss
1T was known that there was i'll blood
between u.s. l continued. "You may be
hanged. Your wife will say how jeal.
ous-.'5 7G3f q ~ 81 e -.
- A wife cannot give evidence against
her husband .,l 4, 4 ~ ~,
II knew that the next moment I
should BIO falling through the air. Aspasm
shot through my heart. I fancled l saw
the bottom of tho car rising from me.
felt the gtatp othis fingers loosen. With
the energy Of desperation I leaped and
caught hiswrist with my diBengaged hand.
I climbed up his body. 1 know not how,
I'LL ! reached The perch and thence into
the car, where ] lay painting for BREATH
He soon followed me. ,Iss3,,ti gIyif
~ frightened you, didn't II he said.
You don't suppose meantkit, do you 2 9
II made no anawer, but prepared for
the descent. .6i- a&1i. a .gi 4 5465s4 n,
"Next morning called on the pYoprie-
fnr nj tho "a rdann. fhraur NJ, mn. a. .ann,